question about this site

[[Be...]]

I get the feeling most of the folks on here are seeking help in getting OFF of benzos.

is there ANYONE other than myself that find benzos to be very helpful for conditions

that can't simply be "willed or wished away" ?? it's the only time I ever felt normal in

60 years of living on this rock. I do not have dementia. why so much negative press about

benzos?

 

if my doctor succeeds in tapering me completely off of  benzodiazepines all the symptoms will re

emerge and my life will be day after day of fear and agoraphobia, panic attacks, all of it.

 

I don't think it's possible. I need to find a new doc. to everyone, please feel free to offer

feedback. but I would LIKE to hear from at least a few people who feel about this as I do.

thank all of you very much for being here 

[[me...]]

Hi,

 

While I was on benzos, I couldn't believe I'd ever be able to function without them.  Xanax helped me through some very difficult periods in my life.  However, there are many well-researched and proven problems with these drugs, tolerance being one of them.  It's common for long term benzo users to need more and more of the drug to get the same result.  Also, if your doctor retires or you move to another state, you can lose your prescription and go through a cold turkey, which can produce severe, long lasting symptoms.  There are many other issues with benzos as well, too numerous to list here.

 

At age 62 I decided I didn't want to be dependent on xanax anymore, and I managed to get off it once and for all.  It was a very long, hard process, but I'm glad I did it and it's been almost 5 years since I quit.  I still have to deal with anxieties and fears, but i can do so without drugs now. I have no desire for xanax anymore.

 

The vast majority of our members are determined to get off benzos, that's just how it is here.  If you decide you want to do that, this can be a very helpful resource for you.

 

 

[[bu...]]

I get the feeling most of the folks on here are seeking help in getting OFF of benzos.

is there ANYONE other than myself that find benzos to be very helpful for conditions

that can't simply be "willed or wished away" ?? it's the only time I ever felt normal in

60 years of living on this rock. I do not have dementia. why so much negative press about

benzos?

 

if my doctor succeeds in tapering me completely off of  benzodiazepines all the symptoms will re

emerge and my life will be day after day of fear and agoraphobia, panic attacks, all of it.

 

I don't think it's possible. I need to find a new doc. to everyone, please feel free to offer

feedback. but I would LIKE to hear from at least a few people who feel about this as I do.

thank all of you very much for being here 

 

Absolutely!  Although its not a very popular opinion here, benzos are probably the most reliable, effective relief for panic, anxiety, many phobias, temporary life stresses, etc. When I was struck with a sudden onset anxiety disorder, unable to function, and borderline suicidal, I thought that first dose of V was the most wonderful thing in the world.

 

But as with most meds, it comes with risks, downsides, and limitations.  Some of the major risks are cognitive impairment, and some physical decline.  And there are a variety of side fxs and paradoxical effects and a high probability of dependency.  And perhaps most significantly, you will almost certainly build tolerance, and it will have declining effectiveness, or  even zero therapeutic effectiveness.

 

Its pretty widely accepted that benzos are not really appropriate for not more than a month or 2.

 

 

[[...]]

No scare tactics, just information sharing.  Many of us found this site by googling our symptoms.  Not understanding why we were in such poor health, suffering with a long list of extremely bizarre symptoms, running from one specialist to another, test after test after test in desperate search of answers.  And so that's how we all landed up here trying to educate ourselves and help one another along.

 

Unfortunately, doctors are clueless (or in denial?) about the terrible damage these medications can inflict on some people and/or the very severe and disabling *physiological* dependency and withdrawal symptoms.  It's a mystery why, as there are studies dating back to the 1960s clearly stating the risks.  The UK is very much more advanced in this respect than we are here.

 

You may find this article informative, to get you going with your research.  The physician/author is a member of this site too, by the way. 

 

http://www.benzobuddies.org/forum/index.php?topic=167352.0

 

I wish you luck whichever direction you choose for yourself. 

[[Be...]]

I get the feeling most of the folks on here are seeking help in getting OFF of benzos.

is there ANYONE other than myself that find benzos to be very helpful for conditions

that can't simply be "willed or wished away" ?? it's the only time I ever felt normal in

60 years of living on this rock. I do not have dementia. why so much negative press about

benzos?

 

if my doctor succeeds in tapering me completely off of  benzodiazepines all the symptoms will re

emerge and my life will be day after day of fear and agoraphobia, panic attacks, all of it.

 

I don't think it's possible. I need to find a new doc. to everyone, please feel free to offer

feedback. but I would LIKE to hear from at least a few people who feel about this as I do.

thank all of you very much for being here 

 

Absolutely!  Although its not a very popular opinion here, benzos are probably the most reliable, effective relief for panic, anxiety, many phobias, temporary life stresses, etc. When I was struck with a sudden onset anxiety disorder, unable to function, and borderline suicidal, I thought that first dose of V was the most wonderful thing in the world.

 

But as with most meds, it comes with risks, downsides, and limitations.  Some of the major risks are cognitive impairment, and some physical decline.  And there are a variety of side fxs and paradoxical effects and a high probability of dependency.  And perhaps most significantly, you will almost certainly build tolerance, and it will have declining effectiveness, or  even zero therapeutic effectiveness.

 

Its pretty widely accepted that benzos are not really appropriate for not more than a month or 2.

 

thank you for responding. my doctor is tapering me off benzos WAY way too fast. I firmly believe that it will for all intents and purposes, ruin my life utterly.

 

I need to change my name builder

 

think of me as UNBELIEVER aka (benzos be helpful.........useless name)

 

so, I taper right off of benzos like they were going to be banned by the czar of the universe any second now. so hurry hurry!!!

 

and then what? go out into the brave new world and have one gigantic panic attack 24/7 for the rest of my life? gee, sounds like fun.

 

but thanks for your kind reply

 

much appreciated. this site is not for me. not at all. in fact, anything on the net is not for me.

there is no hope.  maybe if i suffer badly enough for a sufficient length of time, I'll get to be a saint or something. always up for new adventures 

[[be...]]

If you do check back what the others have said is pretty much dead on true. But this site also does offer hope that perhaps you could use right now. And another doctor willing to let you taper slowly. Good luck. I hope you find something that can be of help. B

[[Do...]]

I thought benzos were helping me.  My neurologist was even going to up my dose due to migraines (although I was originally prescribed them for sleep).  Although I still suffer from withdrawal symptoms, my depression has lifted and my migraines have stopped completely (ironically, they were caused by the benzos). If you choose to stay on them thinking they help you, that is your choice.

 

The biggest concern I have is your age.  You said you have been on this rock for 60 years.  Many doctors are pulling their older patients off of benzos, due to the increased health risks of seniors taking benzos.  There really are other ways to help control panic and anxiety.  However, nobody on this site knows what you were feeling before benzos, so none of us can judge you if you choose to stay on.  Just be careful, because although you may be able to taper off now and rebalance yourself emotionally, in a few years it is possible that you could have them yanked out from under you.  Benzos in the elderly have been linked to falls, loss of balance, severe cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimers. If you do decide to continue taking benzos, I would suggest you make sure your family know this.  Many elderly who end up in the hospital end up being cold turkeyed off the meds because the current doctor does not want elderly people taking it.  I would make sure a relative is able to inform the doctor that you know the risks and want to continue taking it, so you are not forced into cold turkey withdrawal.  (However, the doctors in charge could still refuse to give it to you) 

It is up to you to weigh the pros and cons of continuing benzos, and decide what works best for you!  Good luck with whatever you choose!